AMRITSARGANG BUSTED: The city police claims to have apprehended four members of a gang of robbers and recovered ammunition from their possession here on Sunday. The S.S.P., Mr Narinder Pal Singh, said the arrested were Jasveer Singh, alias Captain, of Udham Singh Nagar, Arvinder Singh, alias Raju, Kulwinder Singh, alias Sonu, both of Antaryami Colony, and Iqbal Singh, alias Bali, of Gopal Nagar.

WORKSHOP: As many as 94 officers, including 10 SPs and DSPs, attended a workshop on “Drug laws enforcement” at Guru Nanak Dev University here on Sunday. Mr G.S. Sahota, Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Border Range), said the police had been able to stem out the drug menace.

DORAHATEACHERS' RALLY: The managements of non-government colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh and Principals of colleges will participate in a rally being organised by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union on April 16 at Matka Chowk in Chandigarh. This was stated in a press note issued by Dr Ishwar Singh, president of the non-government colleges management, Federation of Punjab and Chandigarh.

HOSHIARPURWALKOUT: SAD-BJP councillors of the Municipal Council of Shamchaurasi staged a walkout from the budget meeting of the House on Monday in protest against the authorities for not
preparing a detailed programme for getting passed its annual budget for 2003-04. The members demanded a high-level inquiry into the matter.

KHANNAWHEAT PROCUREMENT: The procurement of wheat began at the local grain market here on Monday. As many as 300 quintals of wheat arrived out of which 150 quintals were purchased by Punsup. The auction started in the presence of the SDM, Khanna, Mr Jaspal Mittal. Among others MP, Shamsher Singh Dullo, Inspector, Market Committee, were also present. The rest 150 quintals were purchased by private traders.

LUDHIANAOATH CEREMONY: The Shivaji branch of the Bharat Vikas Parishad organised an oath-taking ceremony at Ludhiana Club on Sunday. Mr Chander Mohan Sharma, general secretary, Punjab (north), presided over the function. Mr Randhir Sharma, newly-elected president, Mr Rajesh Nauhria, general secretary, and Mr Viney Singla, finance secretary, took oath to work for the welfare of the society.

MEETING
HELD: Dr B.R.Ambedkar Youth Federation held a meeting in Salim Tabri on Sunday in which Mr Jeevan Kumar was the chief guest. Addressing the meeting, Mr Jeewan Kumar said the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar would be celebrated on April 20 at Balmiki Nagar of Basti
Jodhewal.

FLAYED: The Ludhiana Welfare Society has flayed the state government allegedly for its anti-people Budget proposals like increase in civic charges on water and sewerage and sales tax on telephone bills. Mr Manjit Singh Matharoo, president of the society, in a statement here on Monday said the move would jack up the
prices of basic necessities and bring additional financial burden on the masses.

IDENTIFICATION
CAMP: The Indian Red Cross Society, Punjab state branch, Chandigarh, will organise a district-level identification camp to identify handicapped persons for providing artificial limbs and other aids free of cost at Gurmat Bhavan Charitable Trust, Mullanpur, on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Director, Health Services, Punjab, and Vice-Chairman of the State Red Cross, Chandigarh branch, will inaugurate the camp.

ANNUAL
FUNCTION: The annual function celebrations at Arya Samaj, Model Town, began on Monday. These will continue till April 13. Swami Sampooranand Saraswati will give discourse on Vedas.

NAWANSHAHRELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Rahon Municipal Council: president — Mr Dharam Pal Banger (BSP) and senior vice-president — Ms Draupadi Devi (BSP).

PATHANKOTSCHOOL FUNCTION: Mr Raghunath Sahai Puri, Punjab Housing and Development Minister, speaking at the annual prize distribution function of Mahashakti School, Nangal Bhoor village, here on Sunday said that learning was a continuous process and private schools played a vital role in spreading education. The Congress leader said real education was about sharing responsibility and showing love, care and concern for the less fortunate.

PHAGWARASUICIDE: Mohinderpal on Tuesday hanged himself to death at his home at Dhak Pandori village. His mother,
Jeeto, alleged that his son was driven to suicide by his wife who had illicit ties
with a villager. A case under Sections 306 and 34, IPC, has been registered.

CASE REGISTERED: The local police has registered a case of fraud, forgery of will, production of fake documents and criminal conspiracy for grabbing seven acres of land worth Rs 50 lakh at Baran village. The land, which belonged to an NRI, was later sold to one of grabbers. Some Revenue personnel were also involved in the land scam. The case has been registered on a complaint registered by Mr Rajinder Karwal of Khalwaragate Mohalla here.

PHILLAURSCOOTERIST ROBBED: Three unidentified armed robbers/looted Rs 50,000 in cash and a mobile phone from a scooterist, Shingara Singh, near Bhattrra village on Sunday. The Goraya police has registered a case.

CHANDIGARH

PROTEST: The local unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) burnt the effigy of the USA President, Mr George W. Bush, alongwith the national flag of the USA in protest against the war on Iraq here on Sunday. The president of the party’s local unit, Principal Gurbachan Singh, condemned the unilateral decision of the USA and the UK to attack Iraq. The party demanded to put an immediate stop to war.

SMACK SEIZED: The crime branch of Chandigarh Police on Sunday seized 6 gram of smack from a Nigerian national, Boez Ochieng, Otiena, a resident of Phase 3A, SAS Nagar, from Sector 24. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered.

INJURED: A cyclist Ramesh Bhandari, a resident of Burail, was injured after he was hit by a Tata Indica car near the ISBT, Sector 17, here on Sunday. According to the information, the victim was admitted to the Sector 16 General Hospital.

SMACK SEIZED: The Chandigarh Police seized 9 gram of smack from a local resident on Sunday. According to the details available the police seized the smack from the possession of Surinder Singh alias Ganja from Maloya
village. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused.

INAUGURATED:
The president of the local Municipal Council, Mr Kulwant Singh, inaugurated Kamal Dental Clinic in Phase II here on Sunday.

HARYANA

AMBALADHARNA: The local unit of the HVP will stage a dharna in front of the Ambala City municipal council on Thursday in protest against the enhancement of the house tax and imposition of the fire tax on consumers. This was decided at a meeting held here. Senior leaders of the party, including Mr Kulwant Garg, Mr Balwant Singh, Mr Maya Ram and Mr Sukhwinder Lucky, were present.

PROGRAMME: The Rotract Club Ambala Central organised a pulse polio programme at Maruti village here on Monday. Members of the club administered polio drops to children of the village. The president of the club, Mr Arvind Kumar, was also present.

YAMUNANAGARFIRE IN BANK: Goods worth lakhs were destroyed in a fire which broke out in Punjab National Bank branch at Bilaspur, 20 km from here. According to information, the fire broke out due to short circuiting. The incident occurred during a thunderstorm at around 7.30 p.m.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

DHARAMSALAJANA CHETNA: Col (retd) N.L. Sharma was elected president of the Jana Chetna, an NGO working in and around Dharamsala. The elections to the new body were held under the chairmanship of Col S.C. Sharma. The following were elected office-bearers: senior vice-president — Col (retd) Jai Ganesh Singh; vice-president — Mrs Urmilla Rana; general secretary — Prof Kameshwar Agnihotri; joint secretaries — Mr V.K. Sharma and Mr K.D. Mahajan; press secretary — Dr Piyush Guleri and; treasurer — Mr T.D. Sood.